My mom’s smile faltered. “What are you talking about?”

I shoved the note at her. “She’s gone, Mom. She left this. What did you do?”

She barely glanced at the paper. “I have no idea why she would say that.”

Liar.

I studied her face, searching for a crack in her calm mask. My mother was many things—controlling, opinionated, overbearing—but I never imagined she’d be the reason my wife would vanish.

“She just had twins, Mom. She wouldn’t leave without a reason.” My voice was rising. “Tell me. Now.”

She sighed, setting the casserole down with an exasperated clatter. “Fine. If she left, that’s on her. But maybe now you’ll open your eyes. She’s always been… unstable.”

I flinched. “What the hell does that mean?”

“She was never good enough for you,” Mom said simply. “I protected you.”

Blood roared in my ears. “From what?”

Mom hesitated, then smirked. “From raising another man’s children.”

The world tilted. My stomach dropped.

“What?” I whispered.

Mom folded her arms. “Those twins? They aren’t yours.”